It just makes everything interesting. I am sure Federer will still get at least one Slam in his areer. The most welcoming fact is both are beatable by others. Murray, SImon, Vedasco, del Potro are getting themselves ready also. Djokovic when in form will also be a real threat. This is good for the game of Tennis.

I am glad Nadal won, he deserved it. I'm sure Federer's time will come and something tells me Nadal will take it much better than Federer does. As much as I like the way Federer plays, I love watching Nadal fight. He never gives up. Over some finals I've watched them play Federer does give up at times.(Not at Wimbledon) I often wonder why he seems to give up. That is why I prefer to see Nadal win as his attitude remains the same, even though he knows Federer can play outstanding tennis, I think Federer gets a bit rattled by Nadal thinking he can play with him. He's a legend don't you know!!!!

I THINK ROGER FEDERER STILL HAS TIME TO WIN MANY MORE GRANDSLAMS AS LONG AS HE DOESN'T KEEP MEETING RAFA IN FINALS.
ROGER COULD GO ON WINNING AT WIMBLEDON AND THE US OPEN THATS HIS BEST CHANCES FRENCH OPEN A NO NO.
ANYWAY WELL DONE RAFA ON WINNING THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN YOU SO SO DESERVED IT.
GOOD LUCK TO BOTH GUYS IN 09.

Tina: totally agree with all you say. I think it's silly to make predictions. All we can do is talk about the players as they perform day by day, and our perception of their strengths and weaknesses. Nadal can lose not only to Murray or Djoko, but also to Monfils, Ferrer, Verdasco, Federer, Tsonga, Andreev....

What's "talent"? Surely it's not just the physical ability do do things supremely well. If that were the case, Andrea del Sarto would be more valued than Michaelangelo because his technique was more "perfect". Talent for competitive sport includes ability, strength, fitness, attitude, desire, belief and a passion for winning. It is also becaoming a cliche that Nadal's advantage is "only" based on strength and fitness. Actually, he is a great stokemaker and getting better all the time. His latest conquest is the offensive crosscourt backhand. When he gets his serve up over 200kph who will stop him?

I think it is still very premature to hail Nadal as the next tennis hero and that he will complete the Grand Slam this year. Yes Nadal stopped Federer from completing the Grand Slam in 2006 & 2007, who’s to say that Fed won’t stop Nadal this year or for that matter any other player.

Nadal is hot to trot for the moment but the tennis season is just started with one Grand Slam played and three more to go spread over 8 months, also there are the Master Series to play for, as yet Nadal hasn’t proven himself yet to have injury free season or to maintain his body strength without running out of steam as the season comes to end.

The US Open always sees him falter because he runs out of steam when that Grand Slam comes around. If Nadal was to cut down on his play in the clay court season and prepares himself better for the hard court season then he may be in with a chance.

There are still two other players who may or may not stop the Nadal express and that is Murray & Djokvic, who on any given day could play their best tennis yet. Or for that matter a number of players who could halt his path.

Tennis is a funny old game with top players losing in 1st round matches and any given tournament or being beaten by lesser players if it is ‘their day’. The way Nadal’s plays I wouldn’t run out any injury this year, the body can only take so much punishment.

Let’s see what happens as the season progresses.

Apocalypse now, Justiceforall? You sound like a prophet of the second coming. Get off your hobbyhorse, it's only a game.

How many more times one must say .....the better man won, today yesterday and probably tomorrow under the name of Rafael Nadal. ----Learn his name well because he is to stay for long or till he thinks enough is enough.
Federer may have the records but not the number of victories Nadal's got in the bag in all surfaces. ----R Federer may go into the history books as a very well accomplished player but so the most bitter and beaten man by the same very best of his time as it's R Nadal so many times in sequence R Federer's myth gets blown away. ----Certainly Nadal rocks. He is the Number One. He is the better athlete. He reigns supreme. He is unique and top of the world. -----If only rules said that Federer should be deposed of every single GS title then Nadal would become now the greatest ever.---So please abstain from referring R Federer as the the greatest in tennis while Nadal kicks his bum all over time after time non-stop, do not get embarrassed yourselves and learn to act with humllity like champion Nadal and the sooner you recognise Nadal is God the better for you all.

fed is best

I only wanted to say that Roger is aware that he is being cast in the role of victem, which is the last thing he wants to happen. That's what's "killing" him.

Well James Nadal has not yet achieved Half the GS titles Federer got. I agree that Nadal is the best u can find on clay but elsewhere Federer is still the best regardless the two finals he lost to the spaniard(Wimbeldon and AO). If u just look back at those matches a below part Federer could have won them both.
What sadden me the most is that talent means nothing in tennis for me its a physical and mental game and that is why Nadal is on top.

Sorry for my incomplete words at my previous comment. I was in a hurry:-s
BTW, like your post James :) and it worked ;))

James...LOL::))))

At last I got one past

Right then, let's try: Butch Reynolds was a graceful runner who just seemed to flow effortlessly around the track. Michael Johnson was about the ugliest thing you ever saw on 2 legs. But it's Johnson we remember today. Why? beacause the other guy ended up chasing him across the line. Every Eddy Merkx needs his Poulidor to complete his legend, but Roger doesn't want to be remembered as the one Nadal dethroned on his way to glory. But what makes him cry is the percetion that it is becoming inevitable.

OK, both valid. Wht's up?

Test: Rafa is the best.

Test: Roger is the best.

James, lol ;)) it was driving me crazy so many "INVALID"s...too...

Chukwuemeka W,i can't agree...I don't think Nadal will remain number2..Do't forget he started far away from the number one spot RF ), he had to work hard to get close and in short time he had reached in the first 50th, then...he took the first RG...in the mean time Roger was there, number one..bored and waiting for someone really tough, and then Rafa got closed right? It was not easy to get there , to be number 2, to get the points for get close more and more...Then he took the net RG and so on...What number 2? He was a child and he was fighting to get that high..trough so many opponents, he was the one who got number 2, right? And he stood there, being the only one who never let RG to Roger...waiting for the moment to steal him the place. And he did it. Every thing...at its time. Now he is number one. It was natural being numebr 2 and now...number one. And he is going to stay there,look at the points they 2 have right now, se the difference? :)